A group of fanatic Jewish settlers on Tuesday morning desecrated the Aqsa Mosque's courtyards under tight police protection. According to the Aqsa foundation for endowment and heritage, about 20 Jewish settlers, escorted by armed policemen, toured the courtyards of the Mosque. Meanwhile, the Israeli police imposed entry restrictions on Palestinian worshipers, especially students of the Mosque's schools. For his part, deputy speaker of the Knesset Moshe Feiglin announced on his facebook page that he was intending to enter the Aqsa Mosque on Tuesday morning, but he changed his mind for personal reasons. In an earlier incident, 47 Jewish settlers and 15 Shin Bet officers on Monday defiled the Aqsa Mosque under police guard. The Aqsa Mosque, nowadays, is exposed to persistent mass desecration of its courtyards by the Jews as a prelude to imposing Israel's full sovereignty over the Islamic holy site and divide it between Muslims and Jews.

A horde of fanatic Israeli settlers, led by the extremist Tommy Nisani, broke into the holy al-Aqsa Mosque on Sunday, under the protection of police forces. Other Jewish extremists partook in the desecration break-ins, including Jacob Adev, and Ofer Livni, along with the aforementioned Nisani, all of whom involved in Judaization conspiracies targeting al-Aqsa Mosque. The intruding extremists fled al-Aqsa yards as the Muslim congregation and students gathered in its plazas. A set of arbitrary security measures had been issued since early morning by the Israeli patrols stationing around al-Aqsa gates so as to crack down on the Palestinian young summer campers and non-violent Muslim worshippers. Meanwhile, reconstruction chores have been conducted by crews of the Islamic Awqaf (Endowment) as a get-ready-step to mark forthcoming holy Ramadan, in the course of which Muslim masses gather in their holy al-Aqsa Mosque to perform religious prayers.

The Israeli Rabbi Yehuda Glick on Sunday morning broke into al-Aqsa Mosque accompanied by a group of Israeli settlers. Protected by Israeli police, Israeli settlers stormed the mosque from al- Maghareba Gate and toured in the courtyards. The director of media at Aqsa Foundation for Waqf and Heritage Mahmoud Abu al-Atta told "Safa agency" that the settlers spent half an hour in the mosque before leaving, pointing out that hundreds of Muslim worshipers and Students have been from early morning in the backyards of Al-Aqsa. According to Abu Atta, the Israeli police tightened their measures at the gates, especially on the students who attend summer activities in Aqsa. In recent months, groups of extremist Jewish settlers, often accompanied by Israeli security forces, have repeatedly forced their way into the Al-Aqsa complex. The frequent violations anger Palestinian Muslims and occasionally lead to violent confrontations. For Muslims, Al-Aqsa represents the world's third holiest site. Jews refer to the area as the "Temple Mount," claiming it was the site of two prominent Jewish temples in ancient times.

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, pictured during her visit to The Hague, on March 24, 2014Australia's foreign minister will meet ambassadors angered by the country's decision to stop referring to East Jerusalem as "occupied," Prime Minister Tony Abbott said Sunday as he stressed there was "no change in policy."

Australia has been warned of possible Arab trade sanctions after last week's move, which Attorney-General George Brandis said was made because the term "occupied" carried pejorative implications and was neither appropriate nor useful.

But the decision has sparked fury in the Arab world, and on Thursday 18 diplomats from countries including Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Indonesia protested to Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs in Canberra.

Israel seized East Jerusalem during the 1967 Six-Day War and later annexed it, in a move never recognized by the international community. Palestinians, meanwhile, envision East Jerusalem as the capital of their future state.

Abbott, speaking in Houston as part of an official trip to the United States, said Australia was "very happy to clarify the position and on trade".

"My understanding is that there is going to be a meeting between some of the ambassadors and Foreign Minister (Julie) Bishop in a couple of days' time," the prime minister said.

"We are very happy to clarify the position and on trade. People trade with us because we are a good trading partner... Nothing that has happened in the last couple of days could detract from that."

The head of the Palestinian delegation to Canberra warned Friday that Australia could face trade sanctions by Arab nations over the new stance.

Australia's export trade with the Middle East accounts for billions of dollars annually, particularly in wheat and meat, with Qatar and Jordan major markets for live sheep.

Abbott said there was "absolutely no change" to Australia's policy on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the shift on East Jerusalem was "simply a terminological clarification."

"We strongly support a two-state solution," he said. "We are giving, I think, Aus$56 million ($53 million) in aid this year to Palestine. No change in policy."

Israel has hailed the Australian move as "refreshing."

The Palestinians claim Arab East Jerusalem as the capital of their promised state.

The international community views Israeli construction on land seized in 1967, including East Jerusalem, as illegal and a major obstacle to a peace agreement.

Bishop on Sunday blamed the opposition Labor Party for the uproar, telling Ten News it was a "complete and utter overreaction."

The Israel land authority has announced recently tenders for the building of 182 housing units in Pisgat Ze'ev settlement, east Jerusalem, the Hebrew newspaper Kol Ha'ir said The newspaper added on Friday that three companies won the construction bids to expand Pisgat Ze'ev.

According to the newspaper, there is also an Israeli plan to build 12,000 housing units in Modi'in-Maccabim-Re'ut settlement bloc over four years,1,725 of them will be built during this year.

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott speaks at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa, on June 8, 2014

Australia could face trade sanctions by Arab nations over its decision
to stop using the term "occupied" when referring to East Jerusalem, the
head of the Palestinian delegation to Canberra warned Friday.

Izzat
Abdulhadi said Australia's new stance on East Jerusalem, which was
annexed by Israel in a move never recognized by the international
community, was a "substantial policy shift."

"We think that it's very provocative and unuseful, and it's not appropriate," Abdulhadi told AFP.

His
comments came after 18 diplomats from countries including Indonesia,
Egypt and Saudi Arabia protested to Australia's Department of Foreign
Affairs in Canberra on Thursday.

Australia said last week it
would no longer refer to East Jerusalem as "occupied" because the term
carries pejorative implications and was neither appropriate or useful.

"It
is important, as far as you can, not to use loaded terms, not to use
pejorative terms, not to use terms which suggest that matters have been
prejudged and that is a freighted term," Prime Minister Tony Abbott
said.

"The truth is they're disputed territories."

The
comments sparked fury in the Arab world, with the Jordanian and
Palestinian governments summoning Australia's diplomatic representative
in protest. Israel hailed the move as "refreshing."

"We asked the government to reverse this position," Abdulhadi said of the diplomatic protest.

He
added that trade sanctions could be put in place against Canberra if
the government persisted with its stance, which he said left Australia
isolated.

"It depends on the reaction of the Australian
government," he said, adding that the issue could also be taken to the
United Nations General Assembly.

"Unfortunately I think there will be negative consequences for the (Australian) government."

Australia's
export trade with the Middle East is significant, accounting for
billions of dollars annually, particularly in wheat and meat, with Qatar
and Jordan major markets for live sheep.

"We want to maintain
the trade and we will work very hard with them to ensure that that
happens," Australian Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss told reporters
on Friday.

Israel seized East Jerusalem during the 1967 Six-Day
War and later annexed it in a move never recognized by the international
community.

The Palestinians claim Arab East Jerusalem as the capital of their promised state.

The
international community views all Israeli construction on land seized
in 1967, including the West Bank, as illegal and a major obstacle to a
negotiated peace agreement.

Abdulhadi said he would meet Foreign Minister Julie Bishop next week and was hopeful that Australia could explain the decision.

"Maybe we can avoid all this sort of thing if we can have good discussions," he said.

A
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokeswoman said officials at
Thursday's meeting of diplomatic officials had agreed to maintain an
"open dialogue" on the issue.

An Israeli settler launched on Thursday a small airplane equipped with a recording camera above Al-Aqsa Mosque near the Umayyad Palaces area.

The director of Al-Aqsa, Sheikh Omar Kiswani, informed “Maan” news agency that an extremist launched a small airplane near the area of the Umayyad Palaces south of Al-Aqsa Mosque. The airplane which was equipped with a remote control was launched towards Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock and flew for nearly 20 minutes.

Sheikh Kiswani added that Al-Aqsa guards noticed the airplane and located the area where it was launched from and informed the police which arrested the extremist.

Kiswani pointed out that this is the third time in which an airplane has been launched towards Al-Aqsa. The first airplane was launched from Al-Rahmeh Gate and was monitored minutes after it was launched and the second one was launched from the area near the Wailing Wall and was immediately surrounded.

Sheikh Kiswani warned of the danger of launching airplanes towards Al-Aqsa by the settlers, and held the occupation’s police responsible for the actions of the settlers.

He added: “It has become easy for the settlers to load explosives on an airplane and bring it down on Al-Aqsa Mosque.”

At least 100 Jewish settlers stormed on Monday morning al-Aqsa courtyards from the Moroccan Gate backed by the Israeli police, Director of al-Aqsa Foundation for Waqf and Heritage Mahmoud Abu Atta said. He told ALRAY about 106 extremist settlers stormed the mosque in small groups and toured in the mosque’s compound. They tried to perform Talmudic prayers but the Muslim prayers prevented them. The soldiers intensified restrictions at all the gates of al-Aqsa gates, imposing restrictions on the entrance of Palestinian prayers, Abu Atta pointed out that. Extremist Jewish settlers and politicians have lately been violating the sanctity of Al-Aqsa Mosque almost on a daily basis and always under the protection of armed occupation forces, who often attack Palestinian worshipers trying to protect their holy site.

International institutions concerned with Jerusalem issue are expected to declare a boycott campaign against Australia protesting its decision not to refer to east Jerusalem as occupied territory, Quds Press said. Australian Attorney General George Brandis said he found the word “occupied” inappropriate and detrimental to describe the holy city of Jerusalem. Contacts and efforts are made to warn of the seriousness of the Australian decision especially in light of the Israeli escalated Judaization schemes and persistent attacks in occupied Jerusalem, the sources added. The sources clarified that dozens of Arab, Islamic and Christian institutions around the world, concerned with Palestinian cause and Jerusalem issue in particular, discussed ways to impose an economic and academic boycott campaign against Australia and to organize sit-ins and demonstrations in front of Australian embassies all over the world. The institutions called on the Arab League to adopt a firm position against the Australian decision. The international institutions pointed out that Israel has continued, since the occupation of Jerusalem 47 years ago, its Judaization and violations despite the negotiation process, calling for firm positions to protect Palestinian and Jerusalemite rights. Meanwhile, Jordanian MP Khalil Attia sent a petition on Wednesday to the speaker of the Jordanian Parliament Atef Tarawneh, condemning the Australian government's decision not to refer to east Jerusalem as occupied territory. The petition, signed by 27 Jordanian MPs, called for addressing Australian parliament to pressure its government to re-consider its latest decision concerning occupied Jerusalem. The petition also called on Arab and Islamic countries' parliaments in addition to the European parliament to condemn Australia's position that legalizes Israeli occupation of Palestine and Jerusalem. The Jordanian MPs considered the Australian decision a flagrant violation to UN resolutions concerning occupied Jerusalem.

The European-Arab ministerial forum in Athens condemned on Wednesday the Israeli violations in occupied Jerusalem and supported the Arab peace initiative. Moroccan Foreign Minister Salaheddine Mezouar is chairing the Arab League delegation to the forum with the European Union’s foreign ministers, the Moroccan Foreign Ministry said in a statement broadcast on its official website on Wednesday. Mezouar held talks with the EU High Representative for Foreign Policy Catherine Ashton and Croatian First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign affairs Vesna Pusić on the sidelines of the EU-Arab League ministerial meeting. Mezouar drew attention in a speech during the forum to the need to adopt a non-violent political approach to the Middle East conflict aiming at halting the Israeli atrocities, violence, and murder of innocent Palestinian civilians. He further called on the concerned parties to urge the Israeli occupation authorities to stop the “feverish” settlement policy in occupied Jerusalem that is progressing in absolute disregard to international laws and peace efforts. The conferees, at conclusion of their forum, supported the Palestinian-Israeli peace talks, the Arab peace initiative, and the U.S. patronage of peace negotiations. They also condemned the Israeli violations in occupied Jerusalem.

Israeli settlers stormed the park of the Ibrahimi Mosque (Cave of the Patriarchs) in Hebron, on Wednesday, where they attempted to sabotage its content, according to media sources.

WAFA correspondence reprts that a group of settlers broke through the
park and attempted to plow it and install water tubes and sprinklers
before they were fended off by local residents and personnel of the
Islamic Waqf.

Furthermore, the settlers brought a tractor to plow the park which is located in the vicinity of the mosque.

Director of Islamic Waqf of Hebron, Tayseer Abu Sneineh, considers the
assault a further attempt to force local residents out of the area in
order that Israel might take full control of the mosque and its nearby
yards, in addition to being a violation gainst the freedom of worship
guaranteed by all doctrines and international laws, which stipulate free
and safe access to religious places.

“We can never tolerate such an act,” he said.

“Settlers’ sabotage of the municipal park which is the property of
Hebron Waqf, and if continues, would result in adverse consequences that
could “ignite” the whole region.”

The Ibrahimi Mosque is the site of a brutal massacre carried out by
American-born Israeli Baruch Goldstein, on February 25, 1994, during
which unarmed Palestinian Muslims praying inside the mosque were shot in
cold blood by Goldstein. The attack left 29 dead and 125 wounded.
Goldstein was beaten to death by the survivors.

More recently, the Vatican hosted a joint peace prayer
with Pope Francis, Israeli President Shimon Peres and president Mahmoud
Abbas, in an unprecedented symbolic gesture offered with the intention
of creating a bridge of peaceful dialogue across religious borders.

Israeli soldiers, heavily deployed in occupied East Jerusalem, especially near the al-Aqsa Mosque, attacked dozens of Palestinians, including children, near Bab al-Majlis Gate (The Council Gate), and prevented them from entering the mosque.

Sheikh Omar al-Kiswany, head of the al-Aqsa Mosque, said that the
soldiers attacked and detained Palestinian residents, and summer camp
children, trying to enter the mosque, and demanded the residents to
leave their ID cards with the army before entering the mosque area.

Al-Kiswany stated that the soldiers used pepper-spray against employees
and workers of the Waqf and Islamic Endowment Department, in addition to
attacking several men, women, children and teachers.

In related news, Israeli military bulldozers uprooted large areas of
Palestinian lands in Wadi Al-Joz neighborhood, in the Old City of
occupied Jerusalem.

Eyewitnesses said dozens of soldiers invaded the area before army bulldozers uprooted the lands.

The army and police also towed several Palestinian cars, mainly
belonging to residents who live in the area, causing significant damage
to the vehicles.

IOF denies peaceful Muslim congregation access into al-Aqsa MosqueA
state of anxiety has overwhelmed the yards of holy al-Aqsa Mosque on
Tuesday following a series of random attacks launched by the Israeli
Occupation Forces (IOF) on dozens of non-violent Muslim worshippers at
the al-Majlis Gate. The IOF heavily stationed at al-Aqsa gates and
denied the peaceful sit-inners, along with a group of summer campers,
access into their holy mosque. Tough control measures have been issued
all along, Sheikh Omar al-Kiswani, Director General of Holy al-Aqsa
Mosque, said in a press release.
The IOF sprayed pepper gas on the Awqaf personnel and the unarmed
sit-inners, including women, counselors, and a group of children who
have just come to camp out around al-Aqsa, Sheikh al-Kiswani added.

A Palestinian flag fluttering in front of a settlement in the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan, on August 29, 2013The Palestinian foreign ministry on Sunday summoned Australia's diplomatic representative after a top judicial official said Canberra would no longer refer to annexed east Jerusalem as "occupied." Last week, Australian attorney general George Brandis sparked Palestinian fury by saying Canberra would not use such "judgemental language" to describe an area which was the subject of negotiations. Israel hailed the remarks as "refreshing", but the Palestinian leadership denounced them as "disgraceful and shocking", with the ministry making a formal diplomatic protest on Sunday. "The Palestinian foreign ministry summoned the Australian representative Thomas Wilson over the recent comments by the Australian attorney general asking to stop referring to east Jerusalem as occupied territories," a ministry statement said. Speaking to reporters in the West Bank city of Ramallah, foreign minister al-Malki said he was "worried" about the remarks which contravened the position of the international community. He demanded that Canberra "give an official clarification of its position on east Jerusalem in the next few days." Describing it as a "radical change in the Australian position on Palestine", Malki said the shift was made clear in a January interview with an Israeli website given by Foreign Minister Julie Bishop in which she questioned whether Jewish settlements built on Palestinian land were illegal. Israel seized east Jerusalem during the 1967 Six-Day War and later annexed it in a move never recognised by the international community. The Palestinians claim Arab east Jerusalem as the capital of their promised state. The international community views all Israeli construction on land seized in 1967, including the West Bank, as illegal and a major obstacle to a negotiated peace agreement. "Palestine is a state and its capital is under occupation, something that the United Nations and all its bodies are agreed on," Malki said.

The Israeli occupation authorities announced on Monday bids to build new settlement units in Ramat Shlomo neighborhood, in Occupied Jerusalem, paying no heed to international disapprovals. According to the bids announced by the so-called Israeli Land Administration, more than 400 settlement units will be established over five areas outside the Green Line, surpassing the tenders promoted last year in Occupied Jerusalem and the West Bank. “Such bids should’ve been announced long time ago but have been frozen following the visit of former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden to Israel,” the Israeli Channel 2 said. The Israeli Ministry of Housing and Construction had already announced, earlier this week, bids to build 1500 settlement units in Occupied Jerusalem and the West Bank.